Arduaine Garden opening postponed by storms

The National Trust for Scotland’s Arduaine Garden near Oban will not be opening to the public this spring due to storm damage.

Since November 2021, dozens of National Trust for Scotland sites lost more than one million trees in storms and Arduaine Garden, on the coast between Kilmelford and Craobh Haven, has also been badly affected, with dozens of trees felled by high winds. As a result, the garden will remain closed to allow staff to carry out essential forestry work, necessary for public safety.

Work has been going on at the garden for five years to remove 1,000 larch trees from its shelterbelt to comply with a statutory notice issued because of the presence of Phytophthora ramorum. Around 900 have been felled so far.

Simon Jones, the National Trust for Scotland’s garden and designed landscape manager, said: ‘These larch made up most of the shelterbelt at Arduaine Garden, protecting the wider garden from the strong winds and spray coming in from the West Coast.

‘With so much of that shelterbelt now removed, the rest of the trees in the garden were more exposed to the recent powerful storms of Arwen, Corrie and Eunice and we’ve lost dozens of trees and shrubs as a result. Unfortunately, the damage is so extensive, it’s going to take our teams months to clear up and ensure the site is safe for visitors. We’re really grateful for everyone’s understanding and support while this is underway.’

The work to reopen the garden will be carried out in two stages – the first stage will enable the lower part of the garden to reopen to the public. It is anticipated the lower garden may not open again until the end of summer. The second stage, which will allow the rest of the garden to be opened, will not be completed until 2023.

Donations in support of this highly specialised work are welcome and can be made at www.nts.org.uk/campaigns/storm-damage.